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[Racial Lore] Mounsid (Southeron Culture Expansion)


Shiloh Atatis
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Mounsid - People of the South

(Those outside of culture call them Southernos or Southerons.)

 

Mounsidian Traits

 

A people that lives in the tropics. Commonly, their complexions are a series of rich, dark-brown hues. Mounsidians with a slightly lighter skin complexions are possible, but rare. They tend to have stocky, fit body types, built to withstand intense heat, humidity and the harsh salts of the sand and seawater. Mounsidians are also very agile, able to maneuver and weave their ways through areas with dense foliage. Their stamina allows them to run at high speeds for a moderate amount of time or to swim at greater lengths.

 

Thanks to their peaceful nature, the Mounsidians are a primarily diplomatic people and will shy away from violence, if able. Whenever possible, they will solve problems and conflicts through the use of words or wit instead.Only if the Mounsidian way of life or people are being directly threatened will they take up arms. And even then, it’s incredibly likely they will stay their blades long enough to think of a more peaceful route to take.

 

Known for their musical and artistic talents, their musical style can be often identified with its cheerful, energetic rhythms, making it very easy to dance to the majority of their songs. They use a variety of musical instruments, however their most common are guitars, drums, maracas and trumpets. It’s common to see small bands singing together as they play their music.

 

Mounsidian art reflects the music in how bold it can be, often filled with vibrant colors that pop and stand out in almost any setting, and various symbols that relate to many different aspects of their lives. Nature settings and animals, events, and visual anecdotes are commonly painted, however any other type of art is encouraged, including metal or woodworks, jewelery, and body art such as tattoos and dyed hair.

 

Mounsidian Language

 

[[The Mounsidian language is based on Haitian Creole.This is only intended as a guide and as a cheat sheet for commonly used phrases of the Mounsidian people. It’s not necessary to speak entirely in their language.]]

 

Good morning!/Good day! -- Bonjou!

Good evening! -- Bonswa!

Good night! -- Bonn nui!

Goodbye -- Adye

See you tomorrow!/See you later! --- A pi ta! / A demen!

Nice to meet you. -- Achante.

Thank you-- Mesi

You’re welcome -- Pa dekwa

Friend -- Zanmi

Outsider/Stranger -- Etranje

With many hands, the burden is not heavy. -- Men anpil, chay pa lou.

 

Geography

 

For generations, Mounsidians have resided on a cluster of large tropical islands, isolated from other races. As Mounsidians have very little contact with the other races, anyone who visits is treated with kindness, although caution is always exercised until the visitors have proven themselves trustworthy.

 

Mounsidians are very homebound and don’t tend to venture far from home, outside of visiting the other islands. However, when curiosity does strike and some of their own wish to travel abroad, they are never discouraged from it. Instead, the travelers-to-be are graced with the blessings of their people before heading out on their journeys. Most Mounsidians will return to the islands whenever possible to share their knowledge and stories of other lands and, if possible, the goods that they provide as well.

 

Culture

 

Government

 

They rely solely on a self-governed system to keep themselves and others in line, with several islanders designating themselves to protect the other villagers whenever necessary.

 

When necessary, diplomacy is executed, and any route that can avoid a violent outcome is favored. When in need of temporary leaders, Mounsidians will direct others to the known wisest members of their village first.  

 

Clothing

 

Mounsidians go against the grain when it comes to their attire in comparison to other races. Bold and vivid colors or clothes with patterns are commonly favored. Women will often wear dresses (depending on the heat of the day, they could be above-knee length to ankle-length), standard short-sleeved shirts or blouses with off-the-shoulder sleeves. They will often wear shorter dresses or shirts with shortened sleeves. It’s also common to see their midriffs showing, no matter the age of the wearer, however this seems to be more for style than function.

Men normally wear shirts and trousers. It’s common to see the trousers rolled up if they fish or gather water for making seasalt. Shorts are more commonly worn by children, but occasionally adults will be seen wearing them as well.

Du-rags or scarves are also often seen worn by both genders, tied to their heads to prevent sweat or oil from getting into their eyes.

 

Cuisine

 

Their cuisine has a vast variety, and tends to favor spicy meals and sweet beverages. Compliments about culinary masterpieces often include “meals that could make one breathe fire” and “beverages so sweet one’s teeth may fall out.”

 

The ingredients for Mounsidian meals are almost always gathered from their islands, though some Mounsidian chefs have been known to experiment with ingredients retrieved from the mainlands. Common mainstays of their meals may include rice, various beans and tropical fruits. Unafraid to explore different tastes, they are able to blend sweet tastes with the spicy to create unique combinations.

 

Food is a big part of the various festivals that occur year-round, always provided in vast amounts for the the island people.

 

Festivals/Celebrations

 

Feasts and festivals are a large part of Mounsidian culture. Religious festivals, such as the Passing Supper and the Feast of Life and common ones such as coming-of-age ceremonies and marriage.

 

The Feast of Life occurs when a baby is born. The Feast of Life is a very important celebration, due to the Mounsidian belief of reincarnation. It is almost treated as a welcoming party, celebrating the return of a previously lost islander. Many sweet foods are made for this occasion, including Spring Cake, a fruit crumble that is often layered with oats, grains and nuts.

 

Coming-of-age ceremonies are referred to as Vwayaj nan Piti or the Journey of Babes. Rather than being used as rite of passages into adulthood, they are used to guide the youth closer to nature around them to instill respect for it and a clearer understanding of it.

 

When the children are thirteen years of age, they are sent to fill a jar with berries and spices of their choice, sugar, and fresh water after the first spring shower. They’re encouraged to seek out each ingredient (excluding sugar) from a source that is not frequented by the community as a way  to begin and maintain their personal bonds with the land.

 

At sunset, they travel as a group from their home to either a nearby stream or shoreline, depending on what is closest on their island. This large resting spot sits to the east and will always have a clear view of the sun and moon. These spots normally cover several yards of land to give the children enough room to wander and explore as they please. The resting spot is regularly cared for by adults and marked by tall poles with colorful linens tied to their tops. Unless it is to take care of any repairs or for the ceremony itself, this place remains untouched. The children only stay in this spot until morning.

 

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A seaside resting spot for the Vwayaj nan Piti

 

They can partake of their berry mixture the moment they arrive at the location and are encouraged to explore their surrounding area to experience the land together. Anything they need while they are at their resting spot will be taken from natural sources, to help strengthen their personal bonds with the land. It is believed that as the children sleep, they have a dream that solidifies their bonds to nature, although this dream may differ between children.

 

By daybreak, the children gather their jars and return home together, and are praised for paying their proper respects to the land and listen to the children’s stories of what they experienced and learned.

 

Three times a year, Mounsidians take part in breaking bread with strangers and neighbors to bring their community together during a festival called Pataje Tab, roughly translated to “shared tables.” The strangers are welcomed as though they are family and are invited to share in the night’s meal and get to know each other further. Although not required, some guests will bring their own food to the dinner, or arrive early to assist with the cooking. And if the hosts so choose, the visitors may stay to rest for the evening if the festivities stretch too far into the night.

 

For five days from late spring to early summer, a large, outdoor gathering is held. It’s normally held just outside of the town where there is plenty of room, called the Craften Maten A, or Crafter’s Morning. Goods made by the villagers are put on display to be admired, purchased, or given away. Many crafters will hold onto their best goods until Crafter’s Morning for the chance to fetch a higher price.

 

Musicians and performers also attend this event. Some street performers walk amongst the crowds while musicians will play to the side of the road or on small makeshift stages to keep the people entertained. Some passersby are even encouraged to join the performers in an act or a song to further boost everyone’s mood. Performers and musicians can be tipped to encourage them to continue their hard work.

 

Marriage is also a common celebration. The ceremony is usually led by a family member or close friend called the tie or nouer. The tie is informed on what to say days before the ceremony and the two who are getting married create their own personal vows to give to one another. Once the vows have been said, the couple holds each other’s hands. The tie would then take a small vine from a copper bowl, wrapping it around both their hands to symbolize the strength in their unity. Once this has been done, the tie declares them married among the congregation and the wedded couple may kiss. After the ceremony, the celebrations begin, including a large feast, music and dancing, and storytelling.

 

At funerals, the body of the deceased is  dressed with fine clothes and placed in a deep grave with no coffin. The family and friends of the deceased each begin to fill the grave with dirt. The lack of coffin is to fully return the body to nature, allowing for the deceased to fully pass on and for their reincarnation process to begin.

 

Once the body has been buried, the friends and family of the deceased gather for a celebration. Passing Supper occurs after funerals, in celebration of the deceased's life and their passing into a new one. The foods selected for the feast consist of the favorites of the deceased, along with food items with toned-down flavors and istwa diven (or “story wine”), a special wine that is passed in a large bottle around a circle of the deceased’s friends and families as they recount stories. Once they’ve said their story, they take a swig from the bottle and pass it. This goes on until the bottle is empty.

 

Religion

 

Mounsidians have a religion that differs from most. Instead of worshipping gods or goddesses, they worship nature and all it offers, from the animals to the plants to the elements themselves. As a direct result, women are highly respected in the Mounsidian communities, as bearing children begins the process of reincarnation for others.

 

As nature has provided them so much throughout their lives and for several generations, they repay the land with reverence and respect. Whenever possible, they use the least destructive methods in order to take what they need from the land.

 

Early in life, Mounsidians are taught to replace what was taken, if they can, as thanks and a way to give a lasting offering to the land. Chopped trees are replaced with saplings, berries harvested are replaced by berry seeds, and so on. Actions to replace what has been taken are normally done as soon as possible, if not immediately.

 

Their religion also affects how animals are treated for food. They are not entirely barred as food, tools or clothing, however there is a deep respect instilled for each animal needed. Meat-eating depends solely on each individual and their household. Some hold animals in such high regard that they will refrain from meat while others will eat it freely.

 

Those who do raise livestock, hunt, slaughter or eat meat carry only two rules:  Young animals (excluding eggs) that have not matured cannot be used for any reason. Sport hunting is prohibited, as it is seen as wasteful and a shameful venture.

 

When a Mounsidian passes away, it is believed that they are born again. A Mounsidian can be reincarnated as either a plant, an animal, or another person. Their reincarnated form depends greatly on their actions in their previous life.The most favorable form varies by person, however previous actions will dictate whether that person will be reborn as their desired choice. This encourages the Mounsidians to do as much good in their lives as they possibly can.

==

 

 

Writers and Contributors:

Yewell

The_Shrouded_One

Celticwolf1990

Radahan

 

And thank you to everyone who read over this lore for us!

 

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POPEYES

 

LOUISIANA FAST 

 

 

 

((nice lore))

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Black power ! 

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Lore! Lore! Lore! Oi! Lore! Lore! Lore! Oi!

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Unfortunately, this lore has been denied by the Lore Team.

 

Feel free to message any member of the team for the full details.

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